Jameela Jamil defends Ariana Grande remarks
British actor and activist Jameela Jamil has defended her recent comments about Ariana Grande’s appearance, saying her remarks were motivated by concern over beauty standards rather than criticism of the singer. Responding to backlash on Instagram, Jamil cited her own experience with anorexia and argued that discussions about the impact of celebrity imagery on young audiences should not be dismissed.
Jamil had previously faced criticism after suggesting that Grande could be “possibly dying,” a comment that many social media users viewed as inappropriate. Addressing the backlash, the actress clarified that she had intentionally used the word “possibly” and insisted that her broader concern was the influence such images can have on girls and women.
She wrote:
“I said possibly. My god. And my point stands, that this is deeply irresponsible for all the people involved to deliver this aesthetic as glamorous to the many billions of girls and women consuming this imagery.”
Jamil went on to explain that her views are shaped by her own struggle with anorexia, revealing that she nearly lost her life to the eating disorder. She said it was only through intervention from those around her that she was able to recover.
Reflecting on her experience, she stated:
“I feel extremely bad for Ariana having almost died of anorexia myself. And it was only due to the people around me intervening INSENSITIVELY once I willfully ignored (and sort of enjoyed) their careful concern, that I survived.”
The actor acknowledged that she does not know Grande personally and stressed that she hopes the singer is healthy. At the same time, she argued that conversations about body image should focus on the impression such appearances leave on younger audiences.
She wrote:
“I don’t know Ariana and pray she recovers. I don’t think she’s in the comments sections of tiny posts, but young girls watching are, and we need to signal to THEM that this is not the time to pretend this is ok, just because ‘we shouldn’t talk about other people’s bodies.’”
Jamil also referred to late American singer Karen Carpenter, whose battle with anorexia raised global awareness of eating disorders. She argued that society should not ignore potentially harmful beauty standards simply because they involve famous public figures.
She said:
“We do not pretend then that it is not appropriate to comment on how thin they are. We don’t have to pretend we are blind because it’s a pop star. Everyone is killing her by normalizing this. Silence is complicity when it gets this far.”
Her comments have generated mixed reactions online. While some users praised Jamil for speaking openly about eating disorders and their impact, others argued that public speculation about another person’s health can be harmful, regardless of the intention.
The discussion comes shortly after Ariana Grande announced an indefinite break from public-facing work following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour. Grande herself has not publicly responded to Jamil’s remarks, leaving the debate to continue across social media as fans and commentators discuss the balance between raising awareness of eating disorders and respecting personal boundaries.
